Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced visa-free entry for Saudi citizens during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to fostering stronger bonds with Saudi Arabia through increased collaboration in trade, tourism, and investment.
The announcement aligns with Pakistan’s broader agenda to attract Gulf investment during an economic recovery phase. Last July, then-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif introduced visa-free entry for GCC businesspeople to stimulate economic activity.
The discussion also addressed bilateral cooperation to tackle drug trafficking and human smuggling. Naqvi noted steps to prevent abuse of visas for organized begging, imposing tighter conditions for passport issuances.
Saudi Arabia hosts over 2.5 million Pakistani workers, contributing to the largest remittance stream for Pakistan. Ambassador Al-Malki reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s intent to deepen ties in diverse sectors.
